Turnbuckle



min, 1944. M. w. LE DOYEN 2,353,256

' TURNBUCKLE Filed Jan. 6, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Mn T-THEh h471/52L 5 L 5 Do YEN WWW y 1944. M. DOYEN 2,353,250

TURNBUCKLE I I F i'led Jan. 6, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor My T Tf/[WMI/EPL 4 .1 E 00 way By Emma/3h Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TURNBUCKLE Matthew W. Le Doyen, Portsmouth, Va. Application January 6, 1944, Serial No. 517,233

3 Claims. (or. 237-450) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in turnbuckles, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a turnbuckle embodying a pair of barrel sections that are separably connected in such a mannor that they may be readily and quickly released for separation when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a turnbuckle of the above kind in which the barrel sections are co-operatively constructed in a novel manner to effect quickly releasable, separable connection thereof with each other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sectional turnbuckle of the above character which is comparatively simple, durable, and efiicient in use.

The invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a turnbuckle constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational view looking toward the left of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view thereof.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of one of the barrel sections.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the other barrel section.

Figure 6 is a view of the section shown in Figure 4 as seen looking toward the left of the latter figure.

Figure 7 is an edge elevational view of the section shown in Figure 5 as seen looking toward the right of the latter figure, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the band for releasably retaining the barrel sections in connection relation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present turnbuckle includes a pair of oppositely disposed barrel sections 5 and 6, the section 5 including an internally threaded barrel 1 receiving a threaded rod 8 and provided with a pair of spaced longitudinally extending arms 9 and It) on its inner end. The barrel section 6 includes an oppositely threaded barrel ll receiving the oppositely threaded rod l2 and having a pair of spaced arms I3 and I4 projecting longitudinally from its inner end, the arms l3 and 14 being spaced apart a lesser distance than the arms 9 and l!) for reception between the latter, as shown in Figure 1.

It will be noted that the arm 9 of section 5 is rigid and is formed on its inner face with a longitudinal series of teeth l5, while the arm Ill includes a short section l6 rigid with the barrel 1, anda terminal section I'I hinged at one end to'the free end of the section l6, as at 18.

The arm I3 of barrel section 6 is formed in its outer face with a longitudinal series of recesses l9 which form a plurality of teeth 20 therebetween, and the teeth 15 and 20 are of similar size and form so that they will snugly interfit when the arms of the barrel section 6 are disposed between the arms of the barrel section 5, as shown in Figural. The arrangement is such that when the sections are interfitted, the free end of the arm I4 is located slightly beyond-the pivot N3 of arm section ll, so that when a load is placed upon the turnbuckle there is a tendency for the sections to separate in a direction wherein the arm l3 moves away from the arm 9 and arm l4 causes outward swinging movement of the hinged arm section ll. However, means is provided for normally .preventing this separation by holding the arm section ll against outward swinging movement so as to retain the teeth 15 and 20 interengaged. This means preferably consists of a band 2| carried by the section 6 and slidabl to a position wherein the same encircles the arms of both sections, and particularly the swinging arm section II. To hold the band in this retaining position, said band is provided with a pair of transversely aligned openings 22, and the arm I4 has a transverse opening 23 adapted to align with the openings 22 for reception of a removable pin 24 which is preferably in the nature of an ordinary cotter pin adapted to be secured in place by spreading the terminals of its legs in a well known manner. The leg [4 also preferably has a second opening 25 near its free end in which is positioned a second pin 26 whose function is to simply prevent band 2| from sliding ofi of the barrel section 6 when the barrel sections are separated, thereby guarding against loss of the band 2|.

With the parts positioned as shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that the barrel sections are effectively connected together so that the turnbuckle may be used in the ordinary way for adjusting the rods 8 and I2. However, when separation of the barrel sections is desired, it is simply necessary to remove the pin 24 and slide the band 2| off of the arm section IT. The load on the turnbuckle will then act to tilt the section 6 relative to the section so that arm I4 will cause outward swinging movement of arm section I! for permitting the arms 9 and I3 to separate. When the latter takes place, the barrel sections quickly separate. To connect the barrel sections again, it is simply necessary to swing the arm section I1 outwardly and interengage the teeth of arms 9 and I3. Arm section I1 is then swung inwardly against the arm I4, whereupon band 2| is positioned to encircle the arms of both sections, and pin 24 is inserted to hold the band in retaining position.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. The invention provides for quick release of the barrel sections and embraces a construction which is comparatively simple but compact and durable.

What I claim as new is:

1. A turnbuckle comprising a pair of oppositely disposed barrel sections, each including a threaded barrel having a pair of spaced arms projecting longitudinally from the inner end thereof, the arms of one barrel section being spaced apart a lesser distance than those of the other barrel section so as to be received between the arms of said other barrel section, corresponding arms of said barrel sections being provided with interfitting teeth on the opposed faces thereof, one arm of said other barrel section including a hinged outer arm section mounted to swing toward or away from an arm of the firstnamed barrel section, and means to retain the hinged arm section in inwardly swung position so as to maintain the teeth of the barrel section arms interengaged.

2. A turnbuckle comprising a pair of oppositely disposed barrel sections, each including a threaded barrel having a pair of spaced arms projecting longitudinally from the inner end thereof, the arms of one barrel section being spaced apart a lesser distance than those of the other barrel section so as to be received between the arms of said other barrel section, corresponding arms of said barrel sections being provided with interfitting teeth on the opposed faces thereof, one arm of said other barrel section including a hinged outer arm section mounted to swing toward or away from an arm of the firstnamed barrel section, and means to retain the hinged arm section in inwardly swung position so as to maintain the teeth of the barrel section arms interengaged, said lastnamed means comprising a band slidable onto and off of the arms of the barrel sections and positionable to encircle the arms of both barrel sections, and means to releasably retain the band in the last-named position.

3. A turnbuckle comprising a pair of oppositely disposed barrel sections, each including a threaded barrel having a pair of spaced arms projecting longitudinally from the inner end thereof, the arms of one barrel section being spacedapart a lesser distance than those of the other barrel section so as to be received between the arms of said other barrel section, corresponding arms of said barrel sections being provided with interfitting teeth on the opposed faces thereof, one arm of said other barrel section including a hinged outer arm section mounted to swing toward or away from an arm of the firstnam-ed barrel section, and means to retain the hinged arm section in inwardly swung position so as to maintain the teeth of the barrel section arms interengaged, said last-named means comprising a band slidable onto and off of the arms of the barrel sections and positionable to encircle the arms of both barrel sections, and means to reieasably retain the band in the last-named position, said last-named retaining means including a pin, the band and one arm of one barrel section being provided with registerable openings for reception of said pin.

MATTHEW W. LE DOYEN. 

